Is PFAS a threat towards our drinking water resource and waterways? MSc. In geology Anne Mette Bräuner Lindof

Is PFAS a threat towards our drinking water resource and waterways? MSc. In geology Anne Mette Bräuner Lindof

Agenda The organisation of the Danish water supply Legislation for protection of groundwater and waterways Role of the Danish Defence in regards to water protection PFAS history Screening of Defence areas Results from screening Investigation at Airbase Fingerprint Challenges

The organisation of the Danish water supply Decentralized Many small waterworks public and private Non profit Almost all drinking water is extracted from groundwater Only simple water treatment oxidation and sand filtration Protection areas

Legislation for protection of groundwater and waterways Several legislations in Denmark - primarily a legislation regarding soil pollution. Quality criteria for sum of 12 PFAS (PFBS, PFHxS, PFOS, PFOSA, 6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA) soil limit - 0,4 mg/kg ground- and drinking water limit - 0,1 µg/l Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC 23. October 2000 In fresh water 0,65 ng/l In marine water 0,13 ng/l

Role of the Danish Defence in regards to water protection Compliance with legislation Danish Ministry of Defence Environment and Energy Strategy 2016-2020 Goal Identify potential Contamination Sources, within groundwater protections areas.

PFAS history Before 2012 : PFAS - Not a substance that the Danish Defence was investigating. Initial screening at two airbase firefighting ranges. At both sites substantial pollutions with PFAS. Participated in a research project govern by our Ministry of Environment (EPA).

Screening of Defence areas Screening of which activities that might have caused a contamination with PFAS substances and to what amount. Firefighting ranges Small scale firefighting ranges Test-site for Crash-tenders Distributions areas for waste water from firefighting Inventory of firefighting-foam and workshops Workshops for metal plating Waste deposits Weapons workshops Hydraulic oil for airplane brake systems Airplane paint shops Wax, polish and plane-wash

Screening of Defence areas Chosen not to look further into the following items Coating of ammunition Water proofing of uniforms Photo- and printing activities Because these activities are not being performed on a large scale by the armed forces of Denmark.

Screening sites

Results of screening Results, shows that the highest concentrations of PFAS are found at firefighting ranges. PFAS substances found in combination with almost all activities. Different activities have a varying scale of magnitude. firefighting ranges: sum of 12 PFAS in the range from 50 4350 µg/l Other activities are in the range between 0,012 0,80 µg/l.

Danish Air base

PFAS Plume

Dirftsperiode: 1977 - I drift Driftsperiode: 1977-1990 Driftsperiode: 1954-1977 Historical PFAS fingerprint FSN Karup (tre brandøvelsespladser) BR10 B382 B381 B380 KF5 KF3 KF1 G61-2 G60-2 G59-2 G58-2 G57-2 B379 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% PFHpA PFOA PFNA PFBS PFHxS PFOS PFOSA PFHxA PFBA PFPeA PFDA 6:2 FTS

PFAS composition The main PFAS measure at the firefighting site 2016: PFPeA 30 % PFHxA 17 % PFBA 12 % PFHpA 12 % PFOS 11 % 6:2 FTS 7 % PFHxS 5 % PFOA 4 %

Current firefighting foam

Challenges Threshold for Declaration of PFAS in products! Declaration of PFOS when present in concentration of above 0.005 % equals 50.000 µg/l Groundwater limit in Denmark 0,1 µg/l! Most PFAS component is still legal and they are a part of the firefighting foam. Do we analyze the correct PFAS compounds, is there a potential threat, that we do not see? Precursors Legislation limit for surface water is at the level of detection.

Is PFAS a threat towards our drinking water resource and waterways? So far PFAS has not been detected in a large number of waterworks in Denmark. The current use of firefighting ranges is releasing PFAS into the environment. Properties of PFAS means that the stay in the environment.

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